Assembling machine



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P10919120 M Gaoawuv BY b/Is AITTOE/YEYS.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 ASSEMBLING MACHINE Richard M. Goodwin, Anderson,

General Motors Corporation, corporation of Delaware Ind., asslgnor to Detroit, Mich., a

Application August 16, 1952, Serial No. 304,774

Claims. 1 This invention relates to a commutator assembling machine.

The machine of the present invention is one of several machines each of which performs specific functions in the production of commutators. The first machine, for instance, aligns a predetermined number of alternately engaging metal bars and insulating separators in a row, then introduces said rcw into a holding ring so that an annulus of bars and separators is securely held in the holding ring which is ejected from this first machine and directed by a conveyor to the machine of the present invention. This first machine is the subject matter of U. S. application 'Serial No. 267,098, filed January 18, 1952.

This machine inserts a core-sleeve carrying an insulating washer and a clamping collar into the annulus assembled and held in the holding ring delivered to this machine by a conveyor from the first machine. Another insulating washer and clamping collar is slipped upon the exposed end of the core-sleeve in the assembled annulus, after which the holding ring is moved from this machine to another Where a further operation on the holding ring content is performed.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a machine operative automatically to place and clamp successively an annulus supporting holding ring in a fixed position in the machine, then to insert a core-sleeve into the annulus in said clamped holding ring, said core sleeve bearing an insulating washer and a clamping collar at each end thereof, after which the holding ring is ejected from the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

The machine of the present invention has a plurality of parts feeding guides or slide-ways leading to it from sources of supply. One feeding guide directs a row of core-sleeves toward a station in the machine, where the leading coresleeve is located and held in a proper position relatively to one rotatable conveyor of the machine. A second feeding guide provides a row of clamping collars the leading'one of which is located and held in a proper position in the machine relatively to said one conveyor of the machine and the said core-sleeve station. A third feeding guide aligns clamping collars and directs them toward another station in the machine where the leading clamping collar is held in proper position relatively to a second rotatable conveyor of the machine. Two separate insulator strip conveyors are provided, one for directing a strip of insulating material to a station predeterminately located relatively to the core-sleeve locating station and the said one rotatable conveyor, the second for directing a strip of insulating material to a station predeterminately located relatively to said second conveyor of the machine and to the station associated therewith for locating clamping collars relatively thereto. At each of these stations to which the insulating strip is directed, means for stamping insulating washers from said strips are provided, the stamping means acting also as pushers for moving the formed washers upon the respective conveyors associated with the stations at which the washers are formed. A single station is provided in the machine to which successive annulus supporting holding rings are directed and rigidly clamped.

The twopreviously mentioned rotatable conveyors are in the form of dials provided at each side of the holding ring clamping station, the axis of the conveyors being at right angles to but in alignment with the axis of the holding ring when clamped in said station. Each rotary conveyor has eight carriers equally spaced and radially slidably supported therein. A common driving means intermittently rotates said conveyors concurrently so that eight concurrent pauses in rotation are provided during one revolution of said conveyors. At each pause of the one conveyor the carriers thereon, spaced at one to another, are actuated outwardly of the conveyor, the one picking up a core-sleeve, the next one in the direction of conveyor rotation, having a clamping collar placed on the core-sleeve thereon, the core-sleeve on the next carrier receiving an insulating washer and the fourth carrier, aligning with the clamped holding ring, inserting the coresleeve, insulating washer and clamping collar into the annulus in the clamped ring.

'At each pause in movement of the second conveyor which is rotated in a direction opposite the first conveyor, one carrier thereof aligns with the clamping collar feeder, associated with this second conveyor, where means are provided for pushing a clamping ring upon the carrier not extended from the conveyor at this station. At the same time, the carrier at the washer forming station is extended from the conveyor for picking up an insulating washer formed at this station. Concurrently the carrier coaxially aligning with the holding ring clamped in the machine, is actuated to push the clamping collar and engaging insulating washer from the carrier onto the core-sleeve placed in the annulus in the clamped holding ring by the first conveyor. When the cooperating, aligned carriers of the two conveyors are retracted and thus withdrawn from the annulus in the holding ring, said ring is released and ejected from the machine and a new one located and clamped in position. All extended carriers on both conveyors are concurrently retracted and while they are in the retracted position both conveyors are rotated through one-eighth of a revolution for locating the next following carriers, with the respective stations to repeat their functions as just described. While stationary, each conveyor is positively locked against rotation by a stop pin inserted into an opening in the respective conveyor during its pause.

Any suitable control mechanism is actuated by the holding ring rolling into its clamping position in the machine, whereby a clutch is rendered effective for a single revolution to connect the machine with a main power drive. After one revolution the clutch is rendered automatically inactive until a new housing ring rolls into place. Thus the machine can not function until a work iece to be operated upon is in proper position in the machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the commutator assembling mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 1A is a front view of the body of one conveyor of the machine;

Fig. 1B is a sid view, partly member shown in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, part sectional view of mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view illustrating driving mechanism of the machine;

Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F illustrate cams shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, part sectional view illustrating one locating and clamping device of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the operating mechanism for one feeding device of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view illustrating the operating mechanism of conveyors and their carriers and taken along the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 illustrates the actuator for the carriers of one conveyor;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the actuator for the carriers of the second conveyor;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section, showing one of the feeding devices of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 10, in a different operating position;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another feeding device shown in one operating position;

Fig. 13 is a view of the device of Fig. 12 in another operating position;

Fig. 14 is a sectional View, substantially full size, showing parts of the machine in final assembling positions;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a collet embodied in the mechanism of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an end view of said collet;

Fig. 17 is a detail view of the collet shown in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view taken in section of the substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows |8-| 8 in Fig. 14.

The machine of the present invention is designed to perform one operation in the continuous assembly of the commutators. As previously mentioned, this machine receives holding rings from another companion machine, these holding rings containing an annulus of alternately engaging metal segment bars and insulating separators and inserts a core-sleeve in the said assembled annulus within the holding ring which core sleeve has an insulating washer and a clamping collar at each end thereof. After this machine inserts said core-sleeve and the two insulating washers and clamping collars, the holding ring is ejected from the machine and delivered to another companion machine for a further operation.

As the holding ring is provided with the assembled annulus in the first machine it is placed upon a chute having sufficient slope so that said ring may roll along the chute and into a fixed location within the machine of the present invention. The holding rings are designated by the numeral 25 and the chute along which these rings roll from one machine to another by the numeral 2|. This chute is supported upon the platform 22 of this machine by a standard 23 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A traokway element 24 is secured to standard 23 so that it aligns with the chute 2|, the holding rings roiling from the chute 2| onto the trackway 24, which is of rigid construction to permit clamping of the ring in proper position upon this trackway as will be described. Trackway 2t slidably carries a block 25 which may be reciprocated in said track in the direction of the rolling path of the holding rings 20. In this sliding block 25 a finger 26 is pivotally supported, said finger being urged against a stop pin 21 by a spring 28 so that said finger 26 extends from block 25 into the path of movement of the holding rings 20 as they roll onto the trackway 24. This block 25 is secured to the movable piston rod 35 of a power actuated cylinder 3| by means of an adjustable screw stud 32 so that when the cylinder 3| is activated in one instance the piston rod 39 thereof will move the block 25 forwardly in this trackway 24 and when activated in another instance said cylinder 3| will move the block 25 in the other direction into normal position in which said block 25 is held until the cylinder 3| is again activated to shift the block 25 forwardly. The solid line position of the finger 26 in Fig. 5 shows the forward or locating position of the block 25 and its attached finger 26. In this position said finger 26 is engaged by the leading holding ring 20 of the row of rings in chute 2| and is stopped and held in this position, where mechanism is rendered effective rigidly to clamp it upon the supporting block. While the ring 22 is clamped, the power device 3| is rendered active to retract the block from the locating position into a position in which the fingers assume a position as indicated by the dot-and-dash line in Fig. 5. In this position the finger 26 engages the clamping ring 20 on the rear side thereof and in such a manner that the finger is depressed partially so as to compress its spring, thereby causing the finger to exert a pushing force upon the holding ring 20 which becomes effective to start the ring upon its rolling movement from the machine when the clamping effort is released on the ring 26. As soon as the ring 20 is fully assembled and released by the clamping means it will roll from the ma- I chine and then the finger 26 is moved into normal position by its spring so that the next leading ring 20 on the chute 2| may roll into engagement with finger 26 in its retracted position. When the power device 3| is energized to move the block 25 forwardly toward its normal position the finger 26 will, as a result thereof, be moved forwardly permitting the now leading ring 26 to follow the finger and roll into the clamping position previously occupied by the released ring.

When a ring 20 moves into the clamping position, that is, into the position as shown in Fig. 5, it engages and actuates a pusher rod 38 shown in Fig. 2, this pusher rod in turn actuating the micro-switch 39 to close a circuit causing the power device 46 to be activated for moving a clamping block 4| into clamping engagement with the located holding ring 26. The clamping block 4| is slidably supported in a slideway 42 secured to the standard 23. As the clamping block 4| (see Fig. is moved downwardly by the power device 46 for the purpose of clamping the leading ring 26 in proper position in the machine, it moves an adjustable switch actuator 43 into engagement with micro-switch 44, actuating said micro-switch to effect energization of the solenoid magnet 45 connected with a lever 46, see Fig. 4, so that said lever 46 releases a portion of a single revolution clutch 41 whereby a power driven sprocket 48 may transmit driving power to the entire machine for one revolution of said clutch. Sprocket 48 is connected to any suitable source of power by a chain designated by the numeral 49 in Fig. 4. The shaft 35 driven by the clutch for one revolution thereof, extends through the clutch and has a cam 36 mounted thereupon for actuating the air valve 31 for purposes to be described. Thus as the clamping block 4| descends to engage and clamp the leading holding ring 26 it sets the entire machine in motion to complete one revolution of its driving clutch whereby one complete cycle of the machine is effected, after which the clutch 41 is rendered automatically efiective to disconnect the-power drive sprocket 48 from the drive shaft 35 of the machine.

The double acting micro-switch 44 when actuated by the descending plunger not only effects energization of the one revolution clutch 41 but it also effects energization of the power device 3| to retract the block 25 attached thereto from the extended into the retracted position, the finger 26 attached to said block being shown in dotand-dash lines in Fig. 5 when in the retracted position. This block 25 is maintained in this retracted position until the operation on the clamped holding ring 26 by the machine is completed and the assembled ring 26 unclamped and released. When the machine has completed its operation upon the assembly in a holding ring 20, the shaft 35 will have been rotated for one complete revolution and the cam 36 mounted upon said shaft will actuate air valve 31 causing the power device 46 to be energized to withdraw clamping block 4| from clamping engagement with the ring 29 and thereby release it. When the ring is released by the clamping block 4| the partially depressed spring loaded finger 26 will urge said ring to move outwardly of said machine, the finger 26 being moved'to its normal position by the spring so that the next leading ring may roll downwardly over the block to engage and be stopped by finger 26. The previously clamped ring 29 when rolling from the clamped position will permit the pusher lever 38 to return to normal position so that the microswitch 39 is again actuated causing energization of the power device 3| to move its attached block 25 forwardly toward the ring locating position whereby the ring now engaging finger 26 will be permitted to follow said finger and roll into alignment with the clamping block 4|. As this new ring rolls into position it will actuate the pusher rod 38 to operate micro-switch 39 thereby rendering the clamping mechanism eflective to clamp the positioned ring in the machine.

In its clamped position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the holding ring 20 is ready to receive a core sleeve, insulating washers and clamping collars. These are placed within the annulus, held in the holding ring, by means of radially reciprocated carriers supported upon rotary conveyors. The rotary conveyors are designated by the numerals 50 and I59, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are supported in the machine so that one is at one side of the clamping ring 26 and the other is at the opposite side thereof. The axes of these two conveyors are at right angles to the axis of the clamped holding ring 26 but are in alignment therewith so that the radially movable carriers on said conveyors are movable into coaxial alignment with the clamped holding ring 26 as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 illustrates the method and means for mounting and operating one carrier of the machine the second carrier being mounted and 0perated in substantially the same manner and therefore a detailed description of this mechanismfor this one carrier will suifice. The platform 22 of the machine has two spaced side wall portions 52 and 53 having an intermediate apertured shelf 54 secured therebetween. Wall 52 is apertured to receive the bearing collar 55 secured thereto by screw studs 56 while side wall 53 has a similar bearing collar 51 secured in an aperture in said wall by studs 56, both bearing collars 55 and 51 being in coaxial alignment. Bearing collar 55 has the power actuated cylinder 69 attached thereto, said cylinder having an actuating rod 6| extending into the elongated tubular portion 62 of the bearing collar 55. Bearing sleeve 63 extends into and is supported by the tubular extension 62 of bearing collar 55, the other end of this bearing sleeve 63 extending into the bearing collar 51 and being immovably attached to said bearing collar 51 by a set screw 64. This bearing sleeve has an annular outwardly extending flange 65 intermediate its ends. Between said flange 65 and the end of sleeve 63 extending into bearing collar 51, sleeve 63 has two diametrically opposite elongated slots 66. A rod 61 slidably fits in bearing sleeve 63 one end of the rod being securely fastened to the reciprocative rod 6| of the power actuated member 69, the other end of rod 61 having a stop-plug 68 secured thereto by a central screw stud. This stop-plug 68 is reciprocative in a recess within the bearing collar 51 so that when the power member 66 is activated to move the rod 6| thereof inwardly and outwardly of the member 66, the rod 61 will be reciprocated back and forth within the bearing sleeve 63, stop-plug 68 on said rod reciprocating Within the recess of the bearing collar 51.

Between the annular flange 65 on the bearing sleeve 63 and the inner end of the tubular extension 62 of bearing collar 65 sleeve 63 rotatably supports another sleeve 19 which has an outwardly extending annular flange 1| intermediate its ends. A bevel gear 72 is secured to sleeve secured to the platform "ill by a set screw 13, or it may be keyed to said bearing sleeve 10, said bevel gear or pinion 12 meshing with the bevel gear 14 drivingly secured to shaft 75 which is journaled in a standard 16 22 in any suitable manner. This shaft 15 has another beveled gear 1'! attached to its outer end, said beveled gear I! operatively engaging and being driven by a bevel gear 18 attached to the drive shaft 19. The drive shaft 19 and its bevel gear 18 are clearly shown and identified in Fig. 4 which will detailedly be described hereinafter.

Inasmuch as this detailed description or the method of mounting and the means for driving the conveyors is substantially identical and for the sake of brevity this description is directed to the conveyor 58. Conveyor consists of a main body 80 shaped in the form of a spool, that is, having a central barrel or body portion 8! and outwardly extending annular flanges 82 and 83 at each end thereof. (See Figs. 1A and 1B.) The main body 88 of the conveyor is secured to the flange I! of the sleeve 19 by means of a plurality of screw bolts 34. The annular flange e2 on the main body 85) adjacent the end attached to the flange ll has eight radial openings therein, 85a to 85h respectively, which are equally spaced one from the other and extend from the outer peripheral edge of the conveyor to the inner annular opening of the main body 80 which fits about the driving sleeve 10. The outer, flat face of the flange 83 has eight recesses all designated 86 respectively, provided in a circular row therein. The axis of each opening its bisects the axis of a respective radial opening 85a to 85h. Both flanges 82 and 83 have transverse slots equal in number to the radial openings 85a to 8571 and the openings 86, the center of each slot being in the plane of the axis of these openings. In Fig. 1A these slots are designated by the numerals 81a to 81h respectively and it may be seen that the slot 81a communicates with the radial opening 31a in the flange 82 and also with the opening 86 in the flange 83, the remaining slots communicating with the remaining openings in the same manner. Each opening 86 respectively has a thimble 88 (see Fig. '7) held in the main body of the conveyor by a hardened ring-plate 89 which seats in an annular recess provided in the end of the conveyor body. These eight thimbles B8 in the eight respective openings 2E6 provide receptacles into which a stop lock-plunger 30 is insertible by a power actuated member 51 so as to hold the conveyor against equally spaced positions or stations during one revolution of the conveyor as will be later described.

As aforedescribed the power driven pinion 14 rotates its meshing pinion or gear '12 which, keyed to the sleeve lil, causes the flange H of said sleeve to be rotated and thus the conveyor body 80 will be rotated inasmuch as it is attached to the flange H. The driving mechanism rotating shaft 19 is of such a. nature that for each revolution of the main drive shaft 35 of the machine shaft 19,

driving pinion i l will cause the conveyor 50 to be rotated intermittently providing a predetermined pause eight times during one revolution of the said conveyor. By referring to Fig. 4, it may be seen that the shaft 35 has an actuator crank 95 which cooperates with a Geneva gear 96 mounted upon shaft '19, said Geneva gear being so designed and constructed that for each revolution-of the actuator 95 the Geneva gear is roface of the flange portion 83 rotation in eight other cross pin 94 in the sleeve supported thereon.

tated through one increment of rotational movement or, more specifically, through of movement. The conveyor is so positioned on its driving sleeve l0 so that at each period of pause in the rotation of the conveyor 56, which, as have been described, occurs eight times in one revolution of the conveyor 58, radial openings a to 85h respectively of the conveyor will be in coaxial alignment with the axis of the holding ring 20 clamped in position in the machine by the clamping member or block 4i. Thus the radial openings 85a to 85h respectively are successively brought into coaxial alignment with the clamped holding ring 2%) during one revolution of the conveyor 58 which would be eight revolutions of the main drive shaft 35.

The radial openings 85a to 85h respectively of the conveyor 50 each reciprocatively .supports a spindle designated, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by numerals a, 90b, 90c, 90d, Bile, 9% 90g and 90h. All of the carriers on conveyor 50 are identical and therefore only one will be described detailedly, reference being had to the Figs. '2 and 14 for the constructive description thereof. In Fig. 14, a full size sectional view, illustrates the carrier tile of Fig. 2, which is the carrier tile of Fig. 2, is the carrier in coaxial alignment with the clamped holding ring 29. The carrier comprises a tubular member s: slidably carried in the radial opening 85s of the conveyor 50. At its inner end this tubular body portion ill of the carrier has a hardened wear or abutment block 92 secured therein in any suitable manner, Fig. 14 showing a cross pin 93 for this purpose. Anthis carrier immovably secures an abutment block 95 substantially midwa of the carrier, this abutment block being engaged by one end of a spring 98, the other end of the spring seating in a recess provided in the plunger 81 reciprocatively supported within the carrier Slle. This plunger Ell has a reduced diameterend 98 slidably supported in an opening in the outer end of the carrier 90c, a tapering coneshaped area 98 joining the smaller diameter portion 98 of the plunger with the portion thereof slidably engaging the inner wall of said carrier. The outer end of the carrier Me has a short an nular area I00 of lesser diameter of the main body portion of the carrier and a second reduced diameter portion HH smaller in diameter than the portion I90 and considerably longer than said portion. In the wall of this smallest outer diameter portion of the carrier 99c, radial openings I02 are provided, the outer ends of said radial openings being constricted to prevent clutch balls H13 in said openings from escaping therefrom. These clutch balls ride upon the smaller diameter portion 98 of the plunger 91 and as a result of said plunger 97 being urged outwardly of said carrier 906 by the spring 96 the tapered cone-shaped area 99 of said plunger urges these clutch balls I03 outwardly of the openings I02 so that normally a portion of these balls are exposed outside the annular surface of the smallest diameter portion lill of the carrier Bile. Thus when sleeves are placed upon the portion NH of the carrier, a sleeve being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14, the outwardly carnmed balls I02 will grip the sleeve on the carrier to hold it securely in position on the carrier until the plunger 91 is actuated to move the tapering or com,- shaped portion of said plunger away from the balls and thus to permit them to move inwardly of said opening in said carrier and thereby release As has previously therein substantially midway between the cross pins 93 and 94. This cross pin I06 is operatively engaged by the forked end of an operating lever by means of which the carrier is reciprocated or, more specifically, extended and retracted in the conveyor 50. Fig. 7 clearly illustrates this actuating lever. The one designated by the numeral III) is pivotally supported by a pin III, said pin being carried by the conveyor body 88 transversely of the slot 810. This finger I I is nested in slot 810, its forked end extending over the cross pin I06 so as to be operatively connected with the carrier 900. An angular arm portion II2 of the finger I I0 extends radially into the central recess H3 in this body portion 80 of the carrier 50. Each slot 81a to 81h respectively within the carrier body 80 is provided with a finger similar to the finger I In each finger being pivotally supported by a pin III and each respective finger having a forked end operatively engaging the carrier in the radial opening communicating with the slot in which the finger is supported. A spring commonly called a garter spring II5 surrounds all eight carriers in the conveyor 59 fitting in the notches in each carrier and exerting a force on the respective carriers to urge them in a direction in which they tend to move their respective carrier connected thereto inwardly of the conveyor or what is referred to as retractively in the conveyor. Fig. 7 shows a finger I I0 operatively connected with the carrier 90g andalso provided with an angular arm portion I I2 which extends radially into the recess I I3 of the carrier body 80. Like the finger connected with carrier 900 this other finger urges the carrier 90g inwardly or toward its retracted position within the carrier housing 80.

The means for actuating fingers I IE! in the carrier 50 is an interrupted spool-shaped cam I20 having a hub portion l2I centrally apertured to slidably fit upon the immovable bearing sleeve 63..

A cross pin I22 shown in Fig. 7, extends through the longitudinal slot 66 in the immovable sleeve 63 and through the reciprocative shaft 5'! whereby said cam I26 is reciprocative on this sleeve 63 by the movement of shaft 6? under the influence of the power device 6i The extent of the back and forth movement of the shaft and its attached cam I20 is limited by stop collars 19L and 1BR. which may be altered to obtain the desired reciprocatory movement.

has two sets of iour'outwardly extending lugs, one set being spaced axially from the'other to provide an interrupted annular channel between said sets. The four lugs in the set adjacent the end of the cam are designated by the numerals I23, I24, I25 and I26. The four lugs in the adjacent set are designated by numerals I27, I23, I25 and I 30. Lugs I23 and I2! are diametrically opposite "the respective lugs I25 and I29 while lugs I26 and "I39, at 90 to the lugs I23, and I21, are-diametrically opposite the lugs I28 and I 23 respectively. Theadjacent faces of the sets of lugs' are chamfered at each side. Inasmuch as the shaft 6! to which cam I2!) is attached by pin I22 is only movable in an axial direction and is not rotatable, cam I26 will lilgewise only be mov- As shown in Fig. 8, which is a perspective view of the cam I20, the body or barrel-shaped portion I 2-! of said cam- .101. able reciprocatively with the shaft 67. The arrangement of these lugs provides for a clear passageway between vertical and horizontal lugs as shown in Fig. 8. The normal position of fingers I I0 under the influence of the spring bracelet I I5 is the position in which the finger III! engaging the carrier 909 is shown in Fig. '7. When the fingers are in this normal position the cam I20 is through 45 of rotary motion or of the entirerevolution thereof four alternate fingers will be brought to rest betweenoppositely disposed lugs of the cam I20 while the other four alternate finger arms I I2 will be brought into alignment with the open space between two facing lugs and the next adjacent two facing lugs on the cam.-

Thus when the cam I2!) is next recipr'ocated by the reciprocation of rod 6! under the influence of the power device 68 so that said cam is moved from the position more adjacent the bearing collar 5'! in the same figure, the four alternate fingers whose radially inwardly extending arm portions II 2 are between respective lugs on the cam will be actuated about their respective pivotal pins III so that these four fingers will extend the respective carriers or, more specifically, move said carriers outwardly of the conveyor 56. In Fi 2 the four carriers Std, 900, We .and Qty are shown in this" extended position by the action of their respective fingers under the influence of the reciprocating cam i253. Inasmuch as the other four alternate fingers I I 8, more specifically, the fingers operatively connected with carriers 902), 98d, and 90h have their inwardly radially extending arm portions I I2 aligned with the space between oppositely disposed lugs on the cam, reciprocation of the cam 629 will in no way move these fingers and thus said fingers will be maintained in normal position by the spring bracelet II5 as shown in Fig; 7 where the finger IIfi, engaging the carrier 90a, is held in this normal carrier retracting position. At a predetermined point in the operationof the machine the power device 60 is again rendered active to reciprocate the rod 6! in the opposite direction so that the cam I20 is again returned to its normal position more adjacent the bearing collar 57. As the cam I23 moves toward this position the alternate fin gers IIB connected with the previously extended; carriers will retract said carriers to their normal position within the conveyor 55? after which said conveyor 58' is again rotated through another increment or 45 of one revolution thereof which brings the radial arm portions I I2 oi the fingers I I0, operatively connected with the previously retracted carriers, into alignment with the interrupted annular groove I 20 so that when said cam I20 is again reciprocated forwardly, as re-- gards Fig. 7, saidfingers will actuate 99b, 55d, 90f and 9th its extended positions in which the next carrier 9t coaxially aligns with the holding ring 29 clamped in'position in the machine. Said aforementioned conveyor 5!! is securelyv locked in the carrier shifting position by. the power actuatedlocking pin 90. Said'pin 90 actuated by the power device 9'I in properly timed sequence relatively tothe rotation of the carrier 59.

in Fig. '7 toward the bearing collar 55 lil' function of this machine is to apply a sleeve core and two insulating washers and clamping collars to the assembled annulus hei within the holding ring as each holding ring is clamped in the machine by the clamping block. M. lhe carriers of the conveyor 50 are supplied with a core sleeve, a clamping collar and an insulating washer at various points of interrupted movement in the rotation of the conveyor 50. 2 clearly illustrates the carrier 90g of the conveyor 58' in the position in which a core sleeve I is applied thereto. A hopper I36 contains core sleeves which enter the chute. I31 forming a line therein, said core sleeve sliding under the force of gravity toward the end of the chute I3: so that the leading core sleeve in the row of sleeves in saidchute is brought into coaxial alignment with the carrier said core sleeve. In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, this carrier is shown to be 909 of conveyor 55.

The Fig. 2. as do other figures of the drawings show the core sleeves to have an outwardly ex tending annular flange. In order that the flangeon the core sleeve in direct alignment with the carrier 90g and. to be picked up thereby is not overlapped by the flange of the next adjacent coresleeve in the chute I31, so that the proper pick up by the carrier is not interfered with, a separator plug or cam movable betweenthe first two core.- sleeves in the chute for holding them apart toavoid overlap of the flanges thereon. This plug, I38 is carried in block I39 attached to base 22 and extends through an opening in the chute I31. The separator plug I38 is operatively connected with a lever I pivoted at II on. a pin supported by a platform 22. A spring I43 yieldably urges the separator plug I38 into. the retracted position so that its end is held out of. engagement with the core sleeve. The one end. of the lever I40 has a follower held in substantial alignment with the cam I5I so that the follower on lever I40 will; follow the camming contour and be actuated thereby. Cam I5I is operatively mounted upon. the drive shaft 35 and thus actuates separator plug I38 intoposiiton once for each /a revolution of the carrier 56, or, more specifically a. core sleeve in position each time one of the eight carrier 99a, to 9th.- inclusive in conveyor 5|!v is moved into alignment with the located core sleeve. After the conveyor has been rotated so that its carrier 99g aligns with the core sleeve I35 held in proper position by the. separator plug. I318, said conveyor is locked in this position by the locking plug as and then the cam I211. is reciprocated by the power device. I50 so as to actuate finger III) operatively connected with. the carrier. 99g to extend or reciprocate said carrier outwardly of the conveyor 50. As thecarrier 99g is extended and its outer end caused to. enter into the located core sleeve I35 the clutch balls H33 in said carrier similar to the-one shown and illustrated in Fig- 14, engage the core sleeve to grasp it and securely hold it upon the. carrier when reciprocation of the cam I20 by the power device 66 actuates the fingers I I0 operatively connected with said carrier to retract the carrier into the conveyor. Thus in the retracted position with carrier 90g. in the position in. Fig. 2, said carrier will be supplied with a core sleeve I 5.

During the new incremental. rotation of the conveyor 50,. carrier 90!; is moved. counterclockwise. into the position shown to beoccupied by the carrier, 9071. in Fig. 2.. The following carrier to be supplied with.

L38 is provided, which is lar arms I62 and I33.

801 is subsequently moved into alignment withv the leading. core sleeve in the chute I31 and, when the conveyor 55 pauses and is locked in the next 45 position, carrier 90f will be operated to pick up the core sleeve in position in the chute. In its new position which may be referred to as the four oclock. position of the carrier 50, as regards Fig. 2, carrier 98g will be held in its retracted position due to the fact that in this position the inwardly extending radial arm H2. of the finger engaging said carrier will be in alignment with the through passage between oppositely disposed lugs oithe pair of lugs on cam I29. When the carrier 59 has again rotated through the 45 increment of its one revolution carrier 959 will have been moved into the three o'clock position shownoccupied by the carrier 90a. in Fig. 2. In. this position the carrier with its core sleeve i35 gripped thereon will be supplied with a clamping collar I55. Clamping collars I55 are directed from a source of supply by gravity through a chute I56 to a position in which the leading clamping collar coaxially aligns with the carrier of the conveyor at the three oclock. position. At this three oclock. position or station a mechanism is provided for applying the clamping collar I55 to the core sleeve I35 on the carrier which, for purposes of this description and to follow the sequence of one carrier for a complete cycle of the machine will be referred to as the carrier 909'; A block IE1 is. attached to. the end of the chute I55 in any suitable manner, this block having an opening I53 provided therein which is in coaxial alignment with the carrier in this three oclock. position. Figs. 2, l2 and 13 illustrate this portion of the machine detailedly. The opening I58. is counterbored to provide a shoulder I55 which is engaged by the leading clamping collar I55 under the influence of the oppositely disposed spring loaded balls I35 in block I51, said balls securely holding the leading clamping collar in position in block I5? against the shoulder I59. A bracket I''I is supported on block I5? this bracket having relatively angu- Arm I52 pivotally supports a lever Hid at its one end, the other end of said lever having a roller I35 engaging the head I55 of recessed plunger I51 slidably supported in the opening I58. A link I38, longitudinally adjustable to vary its length as desired, has its one end pivotally attached to lever I54 adjacent its pivoted end, the other end of said link being pivotally attached to one end of a lever I59, pivoted intermediate its ends to the bracket arm I33, the other endv of said lever I69 having a roller l'iil lying in the path of the movemerit of finger H3 so as to be. engageable by said finger.

Normally the elements supported by block I51 are in the position as shown in Fig. 12 in which the recess plunger i6! is in its normal inoperative position engaging the stop limit screw III supported in block I51 as positioned by the spring pressed pins Iii'ia (see Fig. 2). The finger H0 is actuated by cam l2ilto move the carrier 93g outwardly of the conveyor portion or into its extended position, as shown in Fig. 13. The core sleeve I35, gripped. upon the outer end of said carrier 9.0g, will be moved toward the held leading clamping collar I55, the core-sleeve entering the collar I55, causing. the, clamping collar I55 to be slipped upon and over the said core sleeve which,v as shown in Fig. 12, has a flared inner end. When the finger III] of carrier 99g has moved outwardly sufficiently to engage roller I79 on lever I69 continued movement of said finger in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of cam I29 will actuate lever I69 to effect a pull on link I68 which in turn moves lever I64 clockwise about its pivotal support on bracket arm I62 so that the roller I65 on said lever I94 will actuate the recessed plug I67 forwardly or in a direction opposite to the movement of the carrier 909 under the influence of finger H9. As recessed plug I 6'! moves forwardly it urges the core sleeve I55, normally engaged by the inner edge of said recessed collar I51, past the spring loaded balls I60 causing the clamping collar I55 to be snapped into final position upon the core sleeve I35 on carrier 999 in which position the clamping collar I55 abuts against the flared end of the core sleeve I35 as shown in Fig. 13. After this application of the clamping collar I55 upon core sleeve I35 is completed the cam I29 is actuated by the power device 99 to operate finger I I9 in a clockwise di rection as regards Figs. 12 and 13, resulting in a retraction of the carrier which, in response to the operation at this three oclock station now carries a core sleeve I35 with a clamping collar I 55 in abutting position with the flared end of the core sleeve (see carrier 90?), Fig. 2).

The next rotation of the conveyor 59 through 45 of its one revolution will move the carrier 99g from the three oclock position into the one oclock position. As shown in Fig, 2 carriers in this position remain in their retracted relation with the conveyor 59 inasmuch as the fingers of the carriers at this one oclock position will not align with the actuating fact the fingers of the carriers at the one oclock position of the conveyor 50 align with the space between the pairs of extending lugs in this cam and thus when the cam is reciprocated by its power device the fingers of the carriers at the one oclock position are not engaged and therefore remain inactive so that the bracelet spring about said fingers will maintain the carrier in retracted position. v 1

Now the conveyor is again rotated counterclockwise 45" so that the carrier 99gis moved from the one oclock position or station into the 12 oclock position or station shown in Fig. 2 to be occupied by the carrier 990. At this 12 oclock station an insulating washer of single or multiple thickness is placed upon the carrier in abutment with the clamping collar surrounding the core sleeve on said carrier. The insulating washer, which may be of a single or a. mulitple thickness, is formed from a continuous strip or strips of insulating material at this station by a punch and die mechanism, the punch, after forming the washer, continuing its movement to push the formed washer upon the extended carrier 99g now at this station. In describing the washer forming and supplying mechanism at this 12 oclock station of the machine reference will be had to the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of this mechanism where a power device I99 is mounted upon a shelf I9I permanently secured to a portion of the machine frame. This power device has a reciprocative shaft I82 attached to a cross head I93 which is slidably carried by guide rods or shafts I84 and I85 supported by a die block'I86. Two punches I81 andISB are carried by the cross head I 83 thepunch I9! being tubular the outer diameter of which is equal to the outer diameter of the washed to be formed.

lugs of the cam I29. In

14 Along side punch I 8! the punch I88 is attached to the cross head I93 this punch I88 being solid and of substantially the same diameter as the inner opening in the hollow punch I87. A continued strip of insulating material I99 either of single or multiple thickness and of a width sumcient to form the necessary washer therefrom is fed from a source of supply through adjacent guide rollers I9I and I92 supported in the frame or wall of the machine, said strip passing between two oppositely disposed power driven feed rollers I99 and I94 carried in blocks secured to the frame 33 of the machine. Roller I93 is rotatable but it also is movable toward and away from the roller I94. The spindle supporting block I93 is carried by a member slidable in the stationary block attached to the frame of the machine, this member being yieldably urged toward the roller I94 by springs I95 interposed between the roller supporting member and a stationary plate I95 attached to the main block. Thus, roller I93 is yieldably urged into engagement with the insulating strip I99 passing between the feed rollers I93 and I94. Fig. 3 shows the method of mount ing the rotatable roller I94, the spindle of which has two gears I91 and I98 secured thereto. Fig. 6 illustrates the mechanism for rotating these rollers. Gear I9! of roller I94 is operatively engaged by a rack I99 reciprocatively supported in a trackway 299 attached to the machine. This rack has one end of a link 29I connected thereto, the other end of said link being attached to one end of a lever 292, the other end of said link being pivotally mounted upon a bracket 299 attached to the stationary frame of the machine. Link 29I is constructed so that it may be adjusted lengthwise to vary its length thereby making controllable the operation of the feed roller I94. Gear I99 on the spindle of roller I99 is operatively engaged by a similar gear secured to the spindle of roller I93 so that when the roller I94 is rotated in one direction by the operation of the rack I99, roller I 93 is rotated in the opposite direction at the same speed due to the engagement of a gear on the spindle of roller I93 identical with gear I98 and meshing therewith. Thus as the rollers i93 and I94 are actuated the insulating strip clamped therebetween will be moved forward from the guide roller HI and I92 toward the punch and die mechanism in the machine. The lever 292 attached to link 29I has a cam follower 295 substantially held in engagement with the contour surface of the cam 299 by a spring 29'! connected to an immovable part of the machine at one end and to the lever 292 at its other end. Cam 299 is mounted upon the drive shaft 35 as illustrated in Figs. l and 4E. The cam is of such formation that during one period of one revolution of the drive shaft 35 the rollers are actuated in the insulating strip advancing direction while during the lesser portion of a revolution of the shaft 35 the rollers are rendered inoperative.

The feeding movement of the rollers I93 and I94 moves the length of the insulation material over the die block I96. At a predetermined time in the operation of the machine, cam 2| 9, shown in Figs. 4 and 4F, actuates a lever 2II which in turn operates a power control valve for rendering the power element I 89 active so that it moves the cross head I39 and its supported punches I91 and I89 toward the the block I89, the hollow punch I87 stamping an apertured portion of the insulating material-therefrom to form the insuv lating .was her continued movement of this hollow punch it? pushing the washer over the core sleeve on the carrier Mtg now in this 12 oclock position, said washer being urged by said hollow punch I8! into engagement with the clamping collar IE on the core sleeve of this extended carrier Mic. The carrier 909 in this instance will be in the identical position in which 900 is shown in Fig. 7. As the cross head I83 is moved by the power device I83 to effect operation of the punch it? for completing the formation of the washer, punch ass is moved to pierce the insulating stri between the rollers I93 and I94 and the punch iSl for the purpose of forming the central opening in said washer. Upon the next advance or the insulating strip by the rollers I93 and its, this pierced opening in the insulating strip I99 is moved by the rollers I93 and I94 into coaxial alignment with the carriers in the 12 oclock position or station of the machine. As soon as the washer is placed in position upon the carrier my in the 12 oclock position the cam I20 is again actuated by the power device 60 under the influence of cam 2&5 shown in Figs. 4 and 4E attached to the drive shaft 35 and being adapted to operate control member 2H5 which is a portion of the control valve which controls the application of power to the power device 60. Incidentally it may be mentioned at this time that cam 22%, mounted on shaft 35 and shown in Figs. 4 and 40, operates lever 22I of a control device which regulates the application of power to the power element SI opcratively connected to the locking pin to which, when extended and moved into engagement with the respective openings in the conveyor body 8%), locates and locks Said conveyor against movement in each of the eightstations into which said conveyor is moved during one revolution of the conveyor.

The conveyor is again rotated through its semi-final d5 of rotative movement whereby the carrier fiiig' is moved from the 12 o'clock position into the oclock position and carrier will not be extended in its conveyor. However, when the conveyor 5% is moved through its final 45 of rotary motion the carrier 90g will be brought into the 9 ocloclr position or station where it coaxially aligns with the holding ring 25 clamped in the machine. When the conveyor 53 is locked in this position the cam IZll is actuated by the power device as to operate the fingers iii associated with the carrier 9&9 so that it is extended from the conveyor and thereby has its outer end moved into the annulus consisting of alternately engaging metal commutator bars and insulating separators, said annulus being securely held the holding ring it? clamped in the machine. Fig. 14 shows the position of the carrier when fully extended from the conveyor 50 so that the core sleeve I35 thereon is pushed into the assembled annulus with the insulating washer clamped against the one sloping edge of the keystone shaped inwardly extending portions of the bars and separators of the amiulus. When fully inserted into the annulus the core sleeve I35 and the clamping collar I55 and insulating washer on said core sleeve remain within the annulus while the carrier is retracted by the reverse operation or the cam i2El under the influence of the power device 66.

Thus during one complete revolution of the conveyor 5:; said conveyor pausing and being held immovable eight times during said one revolution, each carrier therein is provided with a core sleeve, a clamping collar, and insulating, washer, following which each carrier is moved to 16 insert the core sleeve, washer and clamping collar thereon into the annulus in the clamped holding ring. Therefore, during one revolution of the carrier 50, eight holding rings are provided with core sleeves, insulating washers and clamp ing collars respectively.

In order to complete this portion of the assembly of the commutator it is necessary to place another insulating washer and clamping collar upon the end of the core sleeve extending from the assembled annulus in the holding ring. This machine provides a second conveyor 5% similar to the conveyor for this purpose. As shown in Fig. 1, conveyor I50, like conveyor 50, has eight equally spaced radially reciprocated carriers 398a, 399b, 3900, 399d, 3866, BMW, 3909 and 35th. The conveyor I59 is constructed substantially like the conveyor 59 having a body portion with an outwardly annular flange at each end thereof rendering the conveyor spool-shaped. Conveyor I5!) is mounted upon a drive sleeve in exactly the same manner as is the conveyor 58, the drive sleeve being rotated by beveled gears similar to beveled gears 12 and 14 associated with the conveyor 50, these beveled gears in turn being rotated by a shaft 315 similar to shaft 15 driving gear it, this shaft 315 supporting a bevel gear 317 which meshes with a bevel gear 318 mounted on drive shaft I9 (see Fig. l). Thus it may be seen that the drive gears of both conveyors are mounted on the same shaft which is operated by a Geneva gear 96, or intermittently rotated, to eight different positions during a single revolution of the shaft 10, requiring eight revolutions of the drive shaft 35.

Carriers of conveyor I56 like the carriers of conveyor 50, are radially rcciprocative in openings in the one flange portion of the carrier 50 the'reciprocation of these carriers being accomplished by fingers similar to the finger Hi) associated with the carrier I52 These carriers are actuated by a cam in a manner similar to the carriers of conveyor 56. The actuating cam for the carriers of conveyor I50 is constructed differently, however, than the actuating cam in conveyor 50. Fig. 9 illustrates the cam 32@ associated with the carrier actuating levers of the conveyor E56. This cam 32s differs from the cam I213 in that it has no spaced lugs comparable to lugs I25 and I28 of cam I29. Cam 320 has two lugs 232 and 327 facing each other and spaced apart and at right angles to these lugs similar lugs 324 and 3'28 are provided. Thus, each time cam 32% is reciprocated only two levers in the conveyor its are actuated instead of four as in the conveyor 50.

The carriers of the conveyor I50 in the form of tubular members are constructed difierently than the carriers of the conveyor 59 as shown in Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive; Fig. 14 shows carrier 39001. as consisting of a hollow member slidable in a radial opening in the conveyor I53, the inner end of said carrier 316a having a hardened abutmentplug 392' secured therein by a cross pin 393. Between the plug 392 and the inner end or" recess 394 in which the plug is secured, there is pro vided an abutment block 395 secured within the carrier by a cross pin. In the space between the blocks 392 and 395 a cross pin 3% is provided which is engaged by the forked end of the lever are which reci'procates carrier 39 34:. in response to reciprocation of the cam 3253. A plug 39'! is slidably supported in an apertured partition withi'r'i'carrier 390a the inner end of this slidable plug 391 being provided with a head 386 which slidably fits within the recess 394. The head end of plug 391 is recessed to contain a spring 300 which abuts against the block 395 anchored within the recess 394. This spring 390 is predeterminately stronger than the spring in the carriers of the conveyor 50 for purposes to be described. The outer end of the carrier 390a or, more particularly the end of the carrier extending from the conveyor I50, is recessed to provide an annular comparatively thin wall portion 309 which has diametrically opposite elongated slots 400 provided therein. Set screws 40I extend through both these slots and are threaded to the solid end portion 402 of a supporting member or collet 403. As shown in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive the thin wall portion 404 of the tubular portion of the collet 403 has spaced longitudinal slots 405 extending from the end of the collet 403 flush with the plug 39'! to substantially the inner end wall of the solid portion 402 of the collet or supporting member 403. These slots 405 out thin wall tubular portions 404 of the collet 403 into a plurality of resilient fingers 400 biased outwardly to engage the inner wall of the portion 399 of the carrier in which the collet is slidably supported. The thin wall portion 404 of the collet 403 is reduced in diameter at its outer end forming an annular surface 407 interrupted by the slots 405, this annular surface 401 being normally slightly larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the core sleeve I35 inserted in the annulus Within the holding ring 20 by the carriers of the conveyor 50. (See Fig. 14.) The outer edge of the annular surface 40l of the collet 403 is rounded or chamfered so that this smaller diameter portion 40! thereof may be moved to enter within the core sleeve I35 when the respective carrier, 390m in this instance, coaxially aligns with the holding ring 20 during the operation of the machine. It will, of course, be understood that when the smaller diameter portion 40'! of the collet 403 is forced into the core sleeve it will be slightly contracted, the resiliency of fingers 400 urging this end portion of the collet 403 into a gripping engagement with the surrounding core sleeve I35. Between the ends of the collet 403 the thin walled portion 404 thereof has an outwardly extending annular ridge 408.

The collet 403, as previously described, is slidably carried in the tubular end portion 399 of the carrier and thus the ridge 400, being slightly greater in diameter than the body portion 404 of the collet, will cause the collet to be contracted as it is moved into the carrier. When the carrier is again moved into the conveyor E50 to assume its normal position, the screws 40I will engage the face of the conveyor and will cause the collet to be moved outwardly of the carrier so that the ridge 408 will be positioned outside the carrier adjacent its outer end. This permits the split portion of the collet to expand and assume its normal size as the collet extends outside the carrier.

When the conveyor I50 is in the position as shown in Fig. 2 a carrier thereof, more particularly the carrier 390]", as shown in Fig. 2 aligns with the leading clamping ring within the chute 103i. This chute picks up clamping collars from the drum 336 and arranges said clamping collars in a continuous row, delivering them so that the leading clamping collar is placed in a position in coaxial alignment with the conveyor 390 The clamping collars in the chute 33'! are designated in Fig. by the numeral 355. The platform 22 supports a block 420 having a recess 42I rovided with two diameter portions, the larger portion thereof having a piston guide collar 422 secured to the block by set screws 423. Within the larger diameter portion of the recess a piston 424 is reciprocatively supported, the smaller diameter portion thereof slidably fitting within the guide collar 422 and having a reduced diameter tubular extension 425 the outer end of which is recessed to provide a receptacle for the leading clamping collar 355, the recess having a stop shoulder 420 whereby the leading clamping collar 355 is located upon the tubular extension 425 of the piston 424 in coaxial alignment with the radially movable carriers of the conveyor I50, in this instance the carrier 3007. Fluid pressure ports 421 and 423 are provided in the block, the port 42'! leading to the cylinder on one side of piston 424, the port 42? to the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston whereby the piston may be reciprocated by fluid pressure as it is directed into the cylinder. When fluid pressure is directed through the port 42'! the piston 424 is urged outwardly of the recess or cylinder 42! thereby causing the piston extension to move outwardly and carry its supporting clamping ring outwardly so that the clamping ring is slipped over the thin walled portion 404 of the carrier 300 the movement of the piston moving the clamping ring toward and substantially against the annular rigid extension 408 on the expansible and contractable portion 404 of the carrier 390a. With the clamping ring placed in position on the carrier, fluid pressure is directed to the port 428 into the recess or cylinder 42I thereby causing the piston 424 to be retracted into the normal position as shown in Fig. 10. The extended position is shown in Fig. 11.

It will be seen that carrier 390 is not extended from the conveyor I50 at the station in which it aligns with the clamping collar applying mechanism end block 420 and thus screws 40! engage the face of the conveyor I50. This positively holds the collet while the clamping ring is forced upon its end portion 407 and contracts the same to hold the ring thereupon.

Inasmuch as the conveyor I50 rotates clockwise carrier 300 will be moved to the nine oclock position upon the next incremental rotation of the conveyor I50 in which position the carrier is again not extended. At the next station or more particularly at the eleven oclock position of the conveyor I50, the carrier is likewise retained in the retracted position. When next moved through the 45 increment rotation clockwise the carrier 300] will be extended so that at this station the carrier 390 with its applied clamping ring will have insulating washers applied thereto. In Fig. 2 the carrier 3900 is shown in this position. .At this station a punch and die mechanism as provided at the same station relative to conveyor 50, forms and adds the insulating washer upon the carrier extended at this station. The carrier is extended at this station due to the fact that the finger 3I0 thereof is moved into alignment with the spaced lugs 323 and 32? of cam 320 and when reciprocated said cam will actuate the finger 3I0 to move its carrier outwardly of the conveyor I50 into the position as shown in Fig. 2. The carrier is maintained in this extended position until the punch and die mechanism has formed an insulating washer and places the same upon the carrier adjacent the clamping collar thereon after which will be retracted into the conveyor 55%) by the reciprocation of cam to its opposite or rear position. Following this the conveyor its is again rotated clockwise for 45 of the revolution thereof bringing it into the one oclock position as regards Fig. 2 where in 2 the carrier 39% is shown. In this position the finger sic of the carrier aligns with a space between the pairs of extending lugs to and 32 3 to 323 so that reciprocation of the c this station of the conveyor will ca actuation of the finger 35o connected carrier 38th so that the carrier is thus retained in retracted position. When the carrier is moved to the three oclocl: position at the end. of the next e increment rotation of con eyor its carrier Edflf will be moved into the position as shown occupied by carrier 3&liia in Fig. 2. h this position the carrier is actuated into position for the purpose of placing insulate ing washer and clamping collar thei on upon the extending portion of the core slcc e within the assembly in the clamped holding ring When the carrier is extended at the three oclock station of the conveyor Hit, as shown in Fig. 2, the reduced diameter portion to: of the collet 183 on said carrier will be moved to enter the core sleeve held in the commutator assembly in the clamped holding ring it by a carrier of the conveyor 5t. Forward movement of the carrier on conveyor l5!) at this station will cause the plunger 391 to engage the plunger $8 in the carrier 50 and due to the fact that spring 3 is heavier than spring 96 in the carrier of con veyor so, this plunger 391 in moving forwardly will urge the plunger 9? inwardly of the carrier and conveyor 58 thereby moving the cone-shaped surface 99 on said plunger 91 away from the gripping balls N33 thereby releasing their holding eiiect upon core sleeve i315 within the assembly and the clamping holding ring 2t. Forward movement of the carrier in conveyor 55d also causes the main carrier body to move relatively to the collet, contracting said collet by riding over the ridge 4% thereon. Now the main body portion 3% of the carrier, 39%. in this instance, pushes the clamping collar from the contracted collet 463 onto the end of the core sleeve E35 extending from the assembly in the clamping ring 2t. It will of course be understood that the insulating washer on the carrier 396a adjacent clamping collar will be moved with said clamping collar so that the insulating washer is clamped between the one side of the assembly held in the holding ring and the clamping collar being placed thereon. Upon reversal or retraction of the carrier 3% in conveyor the main body portion thereof including the portion sac will be moved rearwardly, the spring maintaining the plunger 39? in engagement with the plunger 97 in the carrier of the conveyor Elli until the head of said plunger is engaged by the inwardly moving body of the carrier Sella at which time the plunger 391i is moved away from the clamped holding collar and is returned to its normal position relatively to the conveyor 5563. Now the assembly within the clamped holding collar 2%] is provided with a core sleeve i235 supporting suitable insulating washers and clamping collars at each end thereof and ready for the next operation in another machine for the purpose of securely fastening the core sleeve and clamping collars within the assembly now held in the supporting ring 20.

The fingers 3w actuating the carriers of the the carrier conveyor 150 are, as has been described, operated by cam 320 when said carrier is rotated to bring one finger in the 12 oclock position, other finger in the three oclock position of id conveyor. In the other positions these fingers can not be actuated by the reciprocating 3211. The reciprocating cam 32B is moved back and forth by a power device correspcndii'ig power device 9i associated with the operating mechanism of the conveyor 59, this power device for actuating the fingers 3m in the conveyor E50 being rendered effective at properly timed intervals by the cam 550 shown in Fig. i, to be mounted on the drive shaft 35. Fig. 4A shows this cam mounted on shaft and operating lever 46%) which in turn actuates a control device for regulating the application of power to the power device that actuates cam Recapitulating generally we find that any suit able power device controlled by a master man control system or valves is operatively connect to a sprocket 48 by a chain as for continually driving one portion of a single revolution clutch ll. The drive shaft 35 adapted to be operated by the power device when the clutch i i is rendered effective for one revolution it is driven for that one revolution so as to operate the various cams 2H), 22%, Z05, l5i, 295, 356 and the cam 5% for one revolution, said cam 56?) being the one comparable to cam 206 for activating the power mechanism which drives the insulating strip feeding mechanism and the punch and die mechanism for punching the washers therefrom. The cam 505, similar to cam 2%, controls the operation of this insulating washer mechanism associated with the conveyor its. 35 has the actuator and locking member 95 for the Geneva gear attached thereto, this member 95 rotating the Geneva gear /3 of a cor plete revolution in each single revolution of the l shaft 35. The member so also looks this Geneva gear against any rotative movement while said member is not in driving relation with said Geneva gear.

The Geneva gear in turn rotates the shait 2s intermittently through of a complete revo-- lution for every single revolution of the drive shaft 35 and thus the two pinions it and thereon rotate their respective pinions and 31? connected thereto to operate the two con" veyors 5i] and I59 through 45 of movement of a complete revolution the conveyor in a counterclockwise direction, the conveyor let in a clockwise direction. At each pause of the con veyor after a 45 movement thereof iour al ernate carriers thereon are extended, ur intermediate carriers thereof are held in ed position. On the other hand when the veyor Q58 is at the end of each 45 niov thereof two alternate carriers thereon are tended while all of the remaining carriers thereof are maintained in a retracted position.

The four extended carriers on the conveyor 50 are operative, the first to receive a core sleeve, the second to receive a clamping collar on a core sleeve already thereon, the third to receive an insulating washer or washers to be placed against the clamping collar already thereon and the fourth to place the contained core sleeve insulating washer and clamping collar in and upon the assembly within the holding ring clamped in position in the machine. At one station of the conveyor 1%, when said conveyor is held against rotation, one carrier thereof receives a clamping collar without being extended from said conveyor. Another conveyor, while extended, receives an insulating washer or washers, placed against the clamping collar already thereon, while another extended conveyor places said clamping collar and its washer upon the core sleeve in the assembly in theclamping holding ring 20 by virtue of said core sleeve having been placed in the assembly in the holding ring 20 by the carrier of the conveyor 50 also coaxially aligned with the assembly at this station.

The machine, after the manual control mechanism has been closed to render the main machine operative, is set in motion by the leading holding collar in the source of supply as it rolls into position in which mechanism is actuated by said holding collar to operate a micro-switch which renders an electromagnet active to release the clutch 4? so that it may be rotated for one revolution only by the driving sprocket 43, thereby rendering effective the various cams thereof which render other elements as aforedescribed, operative in properly timed sequence during this one revolution of the drive shaft 35.

From the aforegoing it may be seen that the entire machine is automatic and continually assembles core sleeves, insulating washers and clamping collars in the one portion of the commutator assembly which, after the operation has been completed by this machine, is released to be transported to another machine for another operation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a machine for assembling commutator parts, said machine consisting of a frame having two opposite, spaced walls each supporting an attached collar in coaxial alignment; a bearing sleeve extending into and supported between said collars and immovable relatively thereto; a tubular member rotatably carried by said bearing sleeve, said member having an outwardly extending, disclike flange; a pair of meshing gears, one of which i mounted upon and secured to said tubular member, the other being secured to an intermittently rotated, power driven shaft; a disclilre conveyor carried by said tubular member and attached to its flange, said conveyor having a plurality of equally spaced radial passages; a carrier slidably supported in each conveyor passage; a plurality of radial slots in said conveyor, equal in number to and each communicating with a respective passage; a shifter lever pivotally s cured in each slot, each lever having an end operatively connected With the carrier in the passage communicating with the slot in which the respective lever is secured, each lever also having an angular arm portion extending radially toward the axis of the conveyor; an interrupted spoolcam reciprocatively carried by the said bearing sleeve, said cam having a plurality of diametrically opposite, outwardly extending lugs, grooved ircumferentially of the cam for receiving the angular arm portions of shifter levers when said conveyor has been rotated to move said levers into radial alignment with extending lugs of the cam; a reciprocative shaft in said bearing sleeve, said shaft having an end thrust button attached to its one end for engagement with the bearing sleeve supporting collar to limit the movement of said shaft in one direction; a pin secured to said shaft, extending through an elongated slot in the bearing sleeve and attached to the spoolcam for causing reciprocation of the shaft to reciprocate said cam on the bearing sleeve; power means connected to said driven shaft and activated at predetermined timed intervals for intermittently rotating the conveyor in one direction; and power means connected with the reciprocative shaft for moving said shaft back and forth during the time of inactivity of the drive shaft.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 in which the conveyor has eight radial passages and a radial slot communicating with each passage, each radial slot having a shifter lever pivotally secured therein, the spool-cam having four, equally spaced, outwardly extending lugs each grooved circumferentially of the cam whereby four alternate shifter levers extend into the spaces between said lugs and the other four shifter levers have their arm portions extending into the grooved lugs when the conveyor is intermittently rotated into its eight positions during one revolution thereof, the actuation of said shifter levers by reciprocation of the spool cam actuating the alternate carriers connected to said levers so that one carrier is supplied with a core-sleeve, another with a clamping ring, still another with an insulating Washer and the fourth carrier injects its core-sleeve with clamping ring and insulating washer into the annulus assembled in a holding ring clamped in the machine; and means operative to provide said core-sleeve, clamping collar, insulating washer and holding ring at the proper stations in the machine.

3. A machine for assembling commutators by placing a core-sleeve, insulating washers and clamping collars upon an annulus of bars and separators in a holding ring, said machine having means operative to direct a holding ring into a fixed position and clamping means clamping it in said position; two rotary conveyors each having eight, equally spaced carriers radially movable relatively to the carriers; means connected to both conveyors, operative intermittently to rotate said conveyors so that each carrier thereon is moved into and temporarily held at rest at eight successive stations during one revolution of the conveyor, at one of said stations a carrier of each conveyor faces and is coaxially aligned with the holding ring; means in the one conveyor operative concurrently to extend and retract four alternate carriers in said conveyor each time the conveyor is at rest, one carrier always facing and coaxially aligning with the holding ring; means operative to provide a coresleeve to another of said four carriers, a clamping collar to the third and an insulating washer to the fourth carrier when they are extended, the said one carrier applying the core-sleeve, collar and washer to the annulus in the holding ring when said carrier is extended; mean in the second conveyor operative concurrently to extend and retract two alternate carriers of the eight in said conveyor each time the conveyor is at rest, the one carrier, facing and axially aligning with the holding ring and When extended placing a clamping collar and insulating washer on the core-sleeve inserted into the annulus in the holding ring by the carrier of said one conveyor; means operative to apply an insulating washer to the second extended carrier on said second conveyor; and means operative to apply a clamp ing collar to one of the carriers on said second conveyor before it is moved into the washer receiving station.

4. A machine for assembling commutators by 

